Dating app racket investigation widens | Lucknow News
Lucknow: A day after the police busted a pan-India sextortion gang, at least seven more people came forward to lodge complaints on Tuesday, exposing the reach of the racket that targeted men through a dating application.Police said the gang lured people via a gay dating app, called them to private locations, and then filmed them secretly before blackmailing them into making payments through QR codes. Police had on Monday arrested four members of the gang, while a 17-year-old minor, who allegedly played a key role in luring people, was detained. The accused were identified as Khalid Ahmad (23), Devkaran Singh (23), Akash Pandey (21), and Subhash Rawat alias Golu (22). Two alleged masterminds are on the run. ADCP (north) Rishabh Runwal said the case came to light after a complaint was lodged on March 15, in which the complainant alleged that a few men barged into his room, threatened him, recorded videos, and forced him to pay money online.A joint team of North Zone SWAT, surveillance unit, and Aliganj police arrested five suspects on Monday.Interrogation revealed a well-planned modus operandi where one member would initiate contact and fix meeting, while other gang members would enter, record videos, and threaten victims to demand money. The gang carried out similar crimes in Delhi, WB , Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra.
